Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
496. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education when the School Transport Appeals Board will issue a decision on a school transport appeal submitted by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47934/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 134,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year The number of tickets issued has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes may be appealed to the School Transport Appeals Board. The School Transport Appeals Board are independent of my Department and the Board liaise directly with Appellants.
The School Transport Appeals Board have confirmed that an Appeal was lodged with the School Transport Appeals Board and the Board wrote to the Appellant referred by the Deputy on 5th October 2023 with their deliberations.
